Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in web designing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Janet Barclay, website design and care specialist based in Hamilton, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I help organizers, resume writers, coaches, consultants, therapists, and other professionals sleep better at night by hosting, monitoring, and maintaining their WordPress sites, so they don’t have to worry about security, downtime, or performance issues.
Tell us about yourself
I created my first website shortly after discovering the Internet in the late 1990s. When I eventually got the itch to start my own business, I worked as a career consultant, professional organizer, productivity consultant, and virtual assistant before realizing that my true passion is working with WordPress.
When I began using WordPress in 2008, it was a simple blogging platform that just about anyone could use. Now it's so advanced that looking after your website is almost a full-time job, but I stay on top of the changes, so my clients don't have to, and my greatest reward is helping them achieve their business goals.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Through blogging and speaking at conferences, workshops, and webinars, I've developed a strong following in the organizing industry. Half of my current clients come from that industry, and several others through referrals from those clients.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Riding it out when things don't go as planned - whether it's a financial loss or personal disappointment.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't be afraid to self-promote. Your business depends on it!
- Being good at something isn't enough. If you don't know how to run and market a business, you're going to run into problems. If you don't want to learn, you'll need to pay someone to do it for you.
- Talk to a coach! Even if you can only afford one session, you're sure to get value out of it. I always have!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://janetbarclay.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanetBarclayDesign/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetbarclaydesign/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanetBarclay
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/organized-assistant/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.